Improvement in hoof-expanders



C. H. SHEPARD. Hoof-Expander.

No. 213,592. Patented Mar. 25, 1879.

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WITNESS s {Qt/Q 67% an 42215631272215. w z W By WM ATTORNEYS- -PE ERS, PHQYQ-UTNQGPAPHER, WASHINGTON. u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. SHEPARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOF-EXPANDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,592, dated March 25, 1879 application filed August 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CnAaLEs H. SHEPARD, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Hoof Expanders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal central section of my hoofexpander. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

My invention relates to devices for expanding or widening horses hoofs; and it consists in certain improvements upon the device for which Letters PatentNo. 182,608 were granted to me September 26, 1876, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

A represents the top plate, which is extended to pass under the toe of the shoe, and has near its rear end two studs or pins, a a,

on which the two springs B B are placed.

The plate A is inserted beneath the toe of the shoe from the rear toward the front, the plateA being next the foot, and the plate D on the outside, or farther from the foot than A, and when so placed springs B B are allowed to expand and catch against the inner side of the shell of the hoof, and by their force to expand the hoof. The inner ends of these springs are enlarged, as shown, and provided with slots at w a: to pass over the studs or pins to a. This construction allows of detaching the springs, so that two different lengths may be used in the same plate, which is necessary when the distance of one side of the hoof from the junction of the frog and shell to the point of the frog is greater than that of the other side, and also that a new spring may be readily replaced when one is broken.

Between the inner ends of the two springs B B is inserted a wedge, C, to keep the springs spread apart a certain distance. The outer corners of this wedge fit in notches t i on the springs, as shown.

The wedge C can be removed, and another wedge of difierent size inserted again, so as to make the springs adjustable for diflerentsized hoofs, and also to make the pressure on the hoof greater or less at will.

This hoof-expander is applied and used in substantially the same manner as set forth in my former patent, above referred to; but in such case I used a single V shaped spring, which was found not to answer the purpose as well.

In my present invention the two springs are separate, can be removed, and are adjustable according to the pressure on thehoof required.

D is a bottom plate, fastened on the studs a, and holding the springs and Wedge in their places.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for expanding horses hoofs, the separate and independent springs B B, removably connected to the studs a a, and adjusted by a wedge, for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the oblong plate A, springs B B, studs 64 a, wedge C, and plate D, all constructed substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. H. SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

HOWARD CAMPBELL, SAML. CAMPBELL. 

